Cutting the umbilical cord is one of the activities performed by surgeons supervising the delivery of the baby. The baby is only finally separated from the mother once the umbilical cord is cut. In true terms, a baby is said to be born into this world once the umbilical cord is cut.

Care and precautions to be exercised before the umbilical cord is cut

Cutting the umbilical cord is a very delicate activity and if not done properly, can endanger the life of the mother and the baby. The precautions taken by surgeons before the umbilical cord is cut are as follows:

• Doctors and surgeons need to ensure that the umbilical cord does not suffer from any abnormality. An umbilical cord is comprised of arteries, veins and vessels. Differences in the number of this composition drives the umbilical cord to being unstable.

Surgeons cutting the umbilical cord without detecting the abnormality first may cut off the oxygen supplies to the fetus resulting in a still birth.

• Surgeons also need to check if the umbilical cord presents itself outside the woman’s womb with the fetus still inside it. Cutting the umbilical cord at this point could also result in stillbirth. Experienced maternity surgeons prefer doing a caesarean delivery of the baby to ensure good health of the baby and the mother in such cases.

What are the alternatives to cord clamps in cutting the umbilical cord?

Cord clamps with a cord knife are frequently-used tools in cutting the umbilical cord. Many mothers do not prefer having cord clamps used during delivery due to their apprehension.

Alternatives to cord clamps are as follows:

• Rubber bands – This is one of the oldest tools used to cut the umbilical cord. A rubber band is wound three to four times around the umbilical cord and then used to cut the cord. Rubber bands are extremely useful for cutting thick umbilical cords.

• Non-waxed dental floss – These tools are effective, social, clean and can only be used if they are sterilized. Non-waxed dental floss is extremely helpful for surgeons to come up with an effective tie on the umbilical cord.

Delaying the cord cutting – is it helpful?

Surgeons who are not convinced with the condition of the baby in the mother’s womb prefer delaying the cord-cutting by some time. This is done to ensure that the baby in the placenta gets some more oxygen to ‘breathe’ before it is taken out. Once the umbilical cord is cut, the blood and the oxygen supply for the new born baby will diminish within a few minutes.

Thus doctors may choose to wait for the ‘opportune’ time to cut the umbilical cord.

The umbilical cord contains cord blood stem cells which can be used to save lives. Learn more about cord blood banking from http://www.babycordbloodresearch.com

Source: www.isnare.com